The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-14
ONCE A FOE-NOW A FRIEND.
a Pleasant Chat With Ex-Governor Cham
berlain.
Mc,cs and Courier AprI the 4th.

ClSdiSuV, SloooiSol ACotu1Co3 q olI6Ag luuS-
tache and brilliant, intelligent eyes, stood
at the entrance to the senctum in which
the Reporters of the Me,us and Courier
meet daily at 10 A. M. to kill indignant
subscribers and fault.fnders, and to con-
coct schemes for getting up what indig-
nant subscribers would call another pack
of lies" for the morrow's paper. He was
attired in q Prince Albert coat, which
fitted him close, and had in one hand
black Derby hat and in the other drip.
ping umbrella. There was no mistaking
the man, and, on the instant, there flash
ed across the Reportorial mind scene
under the walls of Fort Moultrie during
the Centennial year of Jasper's heroic
deeds, when the rifle clubs of South Caro-.
lima and the National Guards of Georgia,
New York and Massachusetts, were gath
cred around him, listening to the patriotic
and eloquent voice Of Daniel b. Cham.
berlain, the last carpet-bag Governor of
the PROSTATE Palmetto State. In another
second the Chamberlain proclamation,
commanding the disbaudiDg of the rifle
clubs, the duel Legislature, the armed
Federal soldiers, and Speaker Mackey
surrounded by his hired bullies, all pass.
ed like lightning in review before the
mind of the astonished Reporter, and. all
vanished as the scenes OF 1884 pushed
themselves to the front, with Daniel H.
Chamberlain, as a prominent figure,
leading the Mugwumps in desperate
fight against the Plumed knight, who
came SC near being President of the
United States. The ex-carpet bag Gov
ernor was forgotten in the person Of
Chamberlain, the Mugwump, who fought
so gallantly for Cleveland and Reform.
In a few moments the Ex Governor,
after cordial grasp of the hand, was
seated in the Reportorial sanctum, talk
about things, past, present and future.
He had been, he said, to Washington,
Richmond aad Savannah on professional
business, and had taken the opportunity
to pay flying visit to Charleston. He
would go hence for short visit TO Co.
lumbia, and returning here would leave
for New York tonight, his presence
there being demanded by professional
engagements on Monday next
II see," he remarked, "that you are
still at your old tricks" as the Reporter
grasped pencil and began scribbling
upon sheet of paper.
"Yes," was the reply. "The President
wanted me to take place in his Cabinet,
but couldn't see my way clear to leav.
ing Charleston at that time and, as you
see, am still here. You don't appear
to be at your old tricks, disbandiug rife
clubs for instance"
"Well, no." replied the Governor with
a smile, ~ am not in politics, although
in 'S4 1 did exer, myself little to defeat
Mr.. Blaine. But want to talk to you
about old Charleston" And for the next
half hour the Governor listened to the
recollectious of the Reporter auent the
earthquake.
"You know" he finally continued, "It
is exactly ten years since have been to
Charleston, and as walked down here
from the hotel I experienced 2 ghost
like feeling. 1 felt like man who has
been dead for generation and had sud.
denly come back to life. The place was
familiar, but l scarcely met face that I
knew until I saw you. What brave old
people and city it is. / can scarcely
realize that I am in Charleston. There
was the great fire in 1861, three years of
bombardment, three years ofyellow fever,
those cyclones of which I have read, and
finally the earthquake-misfortunes
enough to have paralyzed half dozen
cities, and yet to-day there seems to be
as much business activity and enterprise
as there was ten years ago. A city with
so much pluck and endurance was surely
never born to die. Never Old Charles.
ton is bound to become great city. All
her traditions, all her pluck and endur.
ance point to it,"
"Now, Governor, let's talk about poll
tics, ifyou please. Mugwumps are scarce
down here. Are you still supporter of
Mr.. Cleveland ?"
eyes, I have no hesitation in saying
that I AM still a strong Cleveland man,
if that is what you mean. I'll go even
further and say that am stronger for
Cleveland than I was when / voted for
him, and I think, moreover, that is the gen.
eral feeling among the Republicans who
supported him in 1884. If there is any
discomfort I think it is chiefly among
certain Bourbonistic Democrats. The
Mugwumps quorum pars sum seem to me
to be better satisfied with Mr.. Cleveland's
Administration than his own party. I
don't know anybody in the Republican
party who does not admit that Mr.. Cleve-
land has gone farther in the line of civil
service reform than they expected"
"Who do you regard as having the best
chance for the Republican nomination
in 1882"
IT have always thought and still think
that Blaine could get the nomination il
he wanted it. The fact of his going
abroad does not prevent him from receiv.
ing the Republican nomination. 1t is
simply an easy way of leaving himself on
the hands of his friends. I do not think
he can be elected. My own idea is that
Blaine reached the high tide Of his. polit'
ical strength in 1884"
"What made you oppose bis election ?'
"Mr. Blaine is not, in my opinion, 8
man of public integrity. My personal
| observations have convinced me that q
great many Republicans who supported
1